Toothpick holder



1, 1932- H. P; c. BECK 1,870,152

TOOTHPICK HOLDER Original Filed July 26, 1930 IN V EN TOR. H.F'.B.EI1EEK j omns.

Patented Aug. 2, 1932 FATENT OFFEQE HENRY P. C. BECK, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA TOO'II-IPICK HOLDER Application filed July 26, 1930, Serial This invention relates to improvements in tooth-pick holders.

The principal object of this invention is to provide a tooth-pick holder wherein a single tooth-pick will be dispensed at each actua tion of the holder.

Another object of the invention is to produce a device wherein the curvature of the tooth-pick will not interfere with the actuation thereof.

A further object is to produce a portable attractive device which may be readily placed upon the counter in the usual restaurant.

A still further object is to produce a device which will present a sanitary tooth-pick rather than a tooth-pick which has been handled by many persons.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent during the course of the following descrlption.

In the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same,

Figure I is a fragmentary front elevation of my holder,

Figure II is a vertical cross section of my holder, and

Figure III is an enlarged fragmentary detail view showing the roller separating a1 rangement.

Tooth-picks are ordinarily placed upon the counter in a restaurant in a bowl wherein a person may extract one or more. This re sults in dust and other foreign matter coming into contact with the tooth-picks. Applicant has therefore devised a simple mechanism whereby the tooth-picks may be picked from a closed receptacle one at a time without the hands coming into contact with any of the other remaining tooth-picks.

In the accompanying drawing wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a pre- 5 ferred embodiment of my invention, the numeral 5 designates a housing having a removable top 6. I prefer to include a glass panel 7 so that the person using the device can readily see. whether there are any toothpicks within the device. It is also obvious No. 471,026. Renewed May 13, 1932.

that my device may be used as a receptacle for dispensing matches, etc.

lVithin the receptacle I place a division plate 8 upon which a slider 9 moves. This slider 9 has a pin 11 extending through the w plate 8 and a spring 12 connected to the pin 11 and the housing 5. The slider 9 is actuated by a thumb piece 13 which extends through the front of the housing. In order to hold the slider 9 on the division plate 8 G0 I provide a spring member 14E which also serves to guide the tooth-picks toward the rear of the device.

Secured at its upper end to the rear wall of the housing is a spring plate 16 having recesses formed in its lower end to provide ears 1? which are upturned to form bearings to receive the shaft portions of a dumbbell shaped roller 18 having a pair of rolling surfaces as best shown in Figure III. 79 The reason for making the roller dumb bell shaped is to permit curved tooth-picks as shown at 19, to pass thereunder, the curved ends extending above the face of the roller. This roller lies within the path of the slider 9 and close to the edge thereof, the arrange ment being such that a single tooth-pick will pass from the chamber A to a position between the roller and the end B of the slider. As a consequence as the slider is pushed 80 rearwardly this single tooth-pick will be moved under the roller 18 which will rise in its U-shaped supports and the tooth-pick thus moved thereunder will pass through the opening 21 and drop upon the curved receiver 22 from which point it may be removed through the opening 23.

It is to be understood that the form of my invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same and that various changes relative to the material, size, shape and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim 1. In a dispensing device, a receptacle, a division plate mounted in said receptacle and spaced from the rear wall thereof, a slider movable on said division plate, roller means resiliently mounted in said receptacle and normally contacting said division plate, said roller means being disposed in the path of the slider whereby the latter engages the same for disposal thereunder when moved to dispensing position.

2. In a dispensing device, a receptacle, a division plate arranged within said receptacle and spaced from the rear wall thereof, a slider movable on said division plate and held thereagainst, a spring plate secured in said receptacle, roller elements carried by the lower end of the spring plate and arranged in the path of said slider and against said division plate, and said roller elements being movable by the slider away from said division plate to allow said slider to pass below the roller elements for disposing ar- 2 ticles 'to be dispensed through the space between the division plate and rear wall.

'3. In a dispensing device, a receptacle, a division plate arranged in said receptacle and spaced from the rear wall thereof to provide a passageway for the contents of the receptacle, a slider mounted for movement on said division plate and held associated therewith, a spring plate disposed in the receptacle and depending from the rear wall thereof, ears formed with the lower end of said spring plate by providing recesses therein, said ears being upturned to provide bearings, roller elements including shafts mounted in the bearings and being disposed in the path of said slider as well as against said division plate, and said roller elenients being movable by the slider away from said division plate to allow the slider to pass below the roller elements r'or dis- 40 posing articles to be dispensed through the passageway.

In testimony whereof I aliix my signature.

HENRY P. C. BECK. 

